Boy, 16, arrested after potential explosives found

Homes have been evacuated and a 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of explosives offences after potentially dangerous material was found in Blackpool.

Dozens of residents were made to leave their homes after Lancashire Police found "a quantity of items of concern" which turned out to be improvised firework explosives at the property in Gloucester Avenue at 11:30 GMT.

Two other streets - St Albans Road and Cumberland Avenue - were also affected, the council said, with some people sent to Stanley Park Sports Centre.

A council spokesman said the residents were allowed back to their homes at about 20:30 GMT.

Lancashire Police said officers, including specialists from Explosive Ordnance Disposal, were sent to the property to assess the items and make them safe.

The cordon has now been lifted but a police presence will remain at the scene overnight.

Ch Insp Martin Wyatt said: "People's safety was the utmost priority throughout and that is why people living near this address were asked to leave their homes.

"The devices found were improvised firework-types of some power, which potentially were very dangerous."

He thanked all the organisations that had helped, giving a special mention to Tesco Express staff "for providing food for those who had been evacuated".

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and remains in custody.

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